SELF-HELP LAW: Measure G decriminalization

Voters on June 3 will have a chance to affirm or nullify Measure G, which codifies the decriminalization of marijuana in Mendocino County.

Measure G was enacted as Chapter 9.36 and is known as the "Cannabis Personal Use Ordinance for Mendocino County." Below are summarized some the provisions of the code:

Decriminalization of Cannabis in California: The board of supervisors is directed to lobby state and federal governments for the immediate decriminalization of the personal use of cannabis, including possession, transportation, and cultivation.

Law Enforcement Priority of Cannabis: Through its budgetary authority, the board of supervisors shall seek to ensure the sheriff's office and the district attorney give the lowest priority to the enforcement and prosecution of marijuana laws.

Sherriff's Office Arrests and Citations: The board of supervisors shall use its budgetary authority to ensure the sheriff's office makes no arrests and issues no citations for violations of the relevant state Health and Safety Code sections in any single case involving 25 or fewer adult flowering female marijuana plants, or the equivalent in dried marijuana.

District Attorney Prosecution: The board of supervisors shall use its funding authority to ensure that the District Attorney shall not prosecute any violations of relevant state Health and Safety Code sections nor seize property in any single case involving 25 or fewer adult flowering female marijuana plants, or the equivalent in dried marijuana.

Expenditure of funds for Cannabis Enforcement: Neither the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors, not the sheriff, nor the district attorney shall spend or authorize the expenditure of any public funds for the investigation, arrest, or prosecution of any person, or the seizure of any property in any single case involving 25 or fewer adult flowering female marijuana plants, or the equivalent in dried marijuana. Also, the auditor-controller or the treasurer-tax collector shall not approve requests for such expenditures.

Reporting: The board of supervisors shall instruct the sheriff's office and district attorney to report on December 1 of each year regarding marijuana law enforcement and prosecution activities engaged in by themselves and by state, federal, and/or other law enforcement agencies within the County of Mendocino.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Marc Komer is a legal document assistant and can be reached at 459-2775 or www.mendolegaldocs.com.